Intercommunicating telephone.



No. 870,168. PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907.

W. w. HENRY, INTERGOMMUNIGATING TELEPHONB,

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

No. 870,168. PATENTE'D novps, 1907.

w. w. HENRY.

INTBRGOMMUNIGATING TELEPHONE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 17. 1906.

2 sums-snafu.

THE NORRIS PETERS 50., wasumcfou. D- c UNITED STATES PATENT. @FFICE.

WILLIAM WEIR HENRY, OF WOLLASTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASS-IGNOR TO SAMUEL H. COUCH, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5, 1907.

Application filed September 17. 1906- Serial No. 335,007.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM WEIR HENRY, a citizen of Wollaston, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Intercommunicating Telephones, of which the following is a specification.

I have sought in this invention to produce a telephone box for use in inter-communicating systems, wherein the compactness of parts and simplicity of construction permits a marked reduction in the size of box required to contain them. Also, as a primary feature I have sought to so assemble the working parts within said box that they may be readily removed for purposes of repair. have shown in the accompanying drawings a telephone box, preferably of pressed or formed metal construction, within which is mounted, as a unit, the usual telephone mechanism, consisting of the bell movement, induction coil, receiver switch and necessary connectors, and below these a switch mechanism of novel construction which is operated by a series -of levers whose protruding ends are provided with push buttons.

Referring to the drawings,Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved telephone. Fig. 2 is a similar View with the cover removed. Fig. 3 is a central vertical cross-section. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the unit mechanism without the box. .Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of the same. representation of the wiring system between stations. Fig. 7 is a partial section on line 7-7 of Fig. 2, showing a portion of the switch to be described. Fig. 8 is a detail.

The box shown in the drawings comprises a pressedmetal base 6, a body 7 firmly secured therein, and a cover made up of two parts 8 and 9, held together by concealed screws 10, and hinged at 11 to body 7. These screws 10 are inserted from the inside of the cover through part 9 and enter a ring 12 on the transmitter 13. whose projecting shoulder 14 serves to hold part 8 of the cover in place.

The transmitter 13 is of ordinary construction and the cover of the box is formed to receive it. As will be noticed in Fig. 3, the two parts 8 and 9 of the cover are shaped or pressed so as to form a hollow shell and are telescoped together at 15. This gives an added appearance of solidity and strength without a corresponding increase in weight or sacrifice of space within the box. The conformation of the periphery of base 6 serves the same purpose, which constitutes one of the features of my invention.

The box contains two units with their necessary connectors, either of which may be removed entire when disconnected, and changed or sent to the factory for repairs. The main advantage of this feature is that the services of an expert are not required on the spot To accomplish this double purpose I '.'s. 4'.- Fig 6 1 a diagiammatlcal in case repairs are needed. These units are shown detached in Figs. 4 and 5 and may be described as follows:'lhe upper unit comprises the bell movement, induction coil, receiver switch, choke coil and necessary connectors all mounted upon a frame 20 adapted to be secured to body 7 by screws 21, 21 which also secure the bell guard 22 in place (see Fig. 2). 23, 23 represent the bell magnet, 24 the armature, (which serves as the stem of striker 25) and 26 the spring controlling armature 24, said spring serving toconnect the magnet 23 electrically to frame 20, as at 27, Fig. 2. 28 is an induction coil containing the usual primary and secondary windings with respective terminals 29, 29, and 30, 30. 31 is a choke or retardation coil secured to frame 20 by brackets 32, 32. The hook 35 protrudes from the side of the body 7 and is pivotally secured to frame 20 by stud 36. Its inner end is turned at right angles and slotted to receive the insulated end of main spring 37. Coiled spring 38 mounted upon an ear 39 on frame 20 serves to lower the inner or turned end of hook 35 when the receiver is off. In the drawings, hook 35 is shown down, being held by the weight of the receiver, whose stem 40 is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. In this position, main spring 37 contacts electrically with what I will call the bell spring 41, and is in position to permit signaling. 45, 46 represent the binding posts, for the tips of the receiver cord 47, 47, which are insulated from frame 20 by insulation 48. Leaders 49, 5O connect the receiver circuit to the secondary coil terminals 30, 30. 52, 53 and 54 represent binding posts for the line wires 52*, 53, and 54 respectively, of which 52 and 53 are insulated from frame 20 and 54 is not. 51 serves for the switch leader 55 to tip 56 for the, so-called, home circuit, and is also insulated from frame 20. Main spring 37, bell spring 41, so-called primary spring 57 and choke coil spring 58 are mounted in superposed position on frame 20 but insulated therefrom and from each other, as is clearly shown in Fig. 4. \Vithout tracing the various. circuits, the various connectors will be referred to, as follows:Leader 60 connects bell spring 41 to the bell magnet 23. Armature 24 con- 'nects (intermittently) bell magnet 23 to frame 20. Binding post 54, not being insulated from frame 20, connects the frame with its line wire 54*. Main spring 37 is connected to binding post 51 by leader 61. Leader 62 connects primary spring 57 and primary terminal 29. Leader 63 (see Figs. 3 and 4) connects the opposite primary terminal 29 with terminal 64 on transmitter 13. Leader 65, (see Figs 3 and 4,) connects ring 66 on transmitter 13 to tip 67 and to binding post 53 and thence to its line wire 53. Leader 68 connects choke coil spring 58 to choke coil 31, and leader 69 connects chokecoil 31 to binding post 52 and thence to its line wire 52. As will be noticed, all the foregoing parts and connectors are mounted on frame 20 before as sembling, and after insertion in the box 7, leaders 58, 63 and 65 are respectively secured to the switch and transmitter.

The lower unit comprises a group of switches, adapted to perform the ordinary functions required in intercommunicating telephones, all mounted on a single base and inserted as a unit in body 7 of the box. These switches are each complete in themselves and can be used singly where a one point telephone is desired. They are not claimed broadly herein but form the subject-matter of a separate application, of even date herewith, and numbered 335,006, to which reference may be had. The base is provided with an ear 71, perforated to receive pin 72 which forms the common pivot of the several levers 73, 74, 75 and 76. At the opposite end of base 70 are mounted several groups of circuit closers, arranged in tiers and insulated from base 70. As they are all similar, one will be described. The lever 73 is in the shape of a bell-crank with the long arm protruding from the body 7 and provided with a push-button A, which may be labeled Maid as in the drawing. The short arm A is positioned to engage the free ends of the circuit closers and bring them into progressive contact with each other. The circuit closers may be described as follows,to bar 77 which carries binding post a for line wire :1 is secured contact bar 78. In the drawings (Fig. 2) bar 7 8 is continuous for the length of base 70 and serves for either of the levers 73, 74, 75, 76. It is insulated from the several bars 77, 77 77, 77 as shown at a, Figs. 3 and 5. Below bar 77 is a spring contact plate 79, in contact with bar 77*, at Y. Below plate 79 is a second spring contact plate 80 insulated therefrom at z.

' Below this is a re-inforcing spring 81 insulated from plate 80 and base 70. The action is as follows,- when button A is pressed, arm A raises spring 81, and through it plate 80 until its free end contacts with plate 79. Continued pressure on button A carries these parts upward till plate 79 contacts with bar 78. The first contact closes the talking circuit and the second the ringing circuit, as will be presently explained.

I desire to lock lever A in talking circuit and for this purpose I provide an arm 82*, pivotally mounted at 83 to lever 73, whose free end is notched on its under edge, as at 84"". Notch 84 is adapted to engage, by gravity, with locking bar 85, secured to base 70 by means of a depending shell 86. Notch 84 is longer than the width of bar 85 so that after locking therewith, lever 73 can be further operated to'contact plate 79 with contact bar 78 without releasing the lock. After ringing contact is made, button A is released and the several parts return to talking contact po sition, on account of the spring action of plates 79, 80* and spring 81 Before lever 73 will lock, the receiver must be taken from hook 35. The reason for this is that the various arms 82, 82", 82, 82 are unlocked by hanging the receiver on hook 35, in the following manner,pivotally mounted in ears on shell 86 is a bent rod 91 so positioned as to raise the free ends of arms 82, 82, 82, 82 when its handle 92 is depressed. Handle 92 carries a short stud 93 which engages the lower end of releasing lever 94 whose upper end surrounds the stem of hook 35.

spring 38 depresses its inner end, thus raising its outer end and with it releasing lever 94. The free ends of arms 82*, 82 82 and 82 are then at liberty to drop and lock, as before described. Conversely, when the receiver is replaced on hook 35, all the locked levers 73, 74, 75 and 76 are automatically released.

I prefer to mount the bells 95 and 96 on the outside of body 7, in position to be engaged by striker 25. The corresponding parts of the various switches are marked 77 77 7 7 etc., wherever shown. As previously stated, contact bar 78 serves for all the switches. Likewise the various plates 80, 80 80, 80 are united in one piece as shown at W Fig. 4, and provided with a common tip 56 for the common home circuit. Binding post 97, which is not insulated from W, serves as the home point.- The numeral 98, in Fig. 4 designates this lack of insulation. Another binding post 99 is provided which is not insulated from bar 78 (see Fig. 2) and serves to feed back the ringing circuit.

By an inspection of Figs. 2 and 4 it will be noticed that primary spring 57 and choke coil spring 58 are out of contact with each other and with main spring 37. When the receiver is lifted from hook 35, main spring 37 contacts with primary spring 57 and causes it to contact with choke coil spring 58, thus closing the talking circuit. It may be further noted that the ringing circuit is common to all the switches, and may be closed by either one of them.

Referring to Fig. 6, Q, R, S,T represent the respective stations Maid, Cafe, Jan. and Door indicated on push buttons A,'B, G and D. Q, R, S and T represent the various receiver hooks, and are shown down to correspond with the other drawings. The binding posts 53, 52, 54, 97, 99, a, b, c and (Z correspond with the reference characters used in Fig. 2. The levers are lettered A, B, C, D, to correspond with Figs. 1 and 2. Q R S and T represent the bells, Q R S and T the primary winding of the induction coils, Q, R, S and T the choke coils. The circuit closers 78, 79 and 80, 79 and 80 etc. correspond with the nomenclature given in the first five figures. M and N represent the common talking and ringing batteries.

Let us suppose that the maid (station Q) wishes to call the cafe (station B). She takes her receiver 40 from hook 35, cutting out her bell and cutting in her transmitter by closing the following energizing circuit, f to binding post 53, g, 53, M, 52 it to binding post 52, 1'. She next presses button B (see Figs. 1 and 2) thereby closing the following ringing circuit, 1), 7c, binding post 97, bells R 1, 54, N, 99", n. The caf, hearing its bell, takes its receiver 40 from hook 35 and cuts in its own transmitter by closing the following energizing circuit,n to its binding post 53, 53, M, 52 o to its binding post 52, p. Conversation then takes place over the following circuit,j, 5 k, 97, n, 53, g f back to j. At the conclusion of same, both hang up their receivers. At R, the talking circuit is again cut out and the ringing circuit cut in; but at Q, in addition to this, button B is automatically released, as before described.

I prefer to provide means for cutting out the home point at any station calling, to protect against calls from any other station on the line during conversation. For this purpose I form ears 100,100 on base 70, perforated to slidably receive lugs 101,101, on sliding bar 102. Bar 102 is provided with a series of slots on its under surface adapted to be engaged by cam surfaces 103,103 formed on each lever 73, 74, 75, 76, by which either lever, when pressed to close a talking circuit, will move bar 102 longitudinally to break contact between binding post 97, which is insulated from its base 97, (see Fig. 7) and an insulated pin 104, mounted on bar 102 and connected to base 97 by a flexible leader 105. Spring 106 returns bar 102 as soon as the lever used is released.

Fig, 8 shows a plan view of the short arm A of one of the levers, illustrating the manner in which cam surface 103 operates to move bar 102 longitudinally, said bar being shown as horizontally cut to reveal the notch.

In Fig. 7 the contact portion of binding post 97 and the insulated pin are shown in elevation [or purposes oi clearer illustration.

in Fig. 6., 103 and 104 represent the cut-out referred to by similar numbers in Figs. 7 and S and show such cut-out on the home wire of each station. Of course each of the various levers will operate this cut-out, as indicated in Fig. 2; but to avoid obscurity in the diagram, only one such is shown at each station.

It is understood that I do not limit myself to the precise form of construction shown in the drawings.

The base 7 0 is removably secured to body 7 by means of screws 16, which enter shell 86.

What I claim is 1. bell movement: induction coil; receiver switch and necessary connectors. all removably secured within a tele phonebox: said box: and a switch adapted to progressively close the talking and ringing circuits through the operation ol a lever; and said lever, both removably secured within said box.

2. A bell movement; induction coil; receiver switch; and necessary connectors, all removably secured within a telephone box said box; and a switch adapted to progressively close the talking and ringing circuits through the operation of a lever; said lever; and automatic locking means attached to said lever for maintaining said talking circuit, all removably secured within said box.

3. A bell movement; induction coil; receiver switch; and necessary connectors, all removably secured within a telephone box said box and a switch adapted to progressivcly close the talking and ringing circuits through the operation of a lever; said lever; and automatic locking means attached to said lever for maintaining said talking circuit. automatic releasing means for causing release of said lock through the operation of the receiver-supporting lever. and said receiver-supporting lever, all removably secured within said box.

4, A formed metal telephone box comprising a base, a body rigidly secured to said base, and a two part cover removably secured to said body and adapted to support the transmitter; in combination with a bell movement, induction coil. receiver switch. signaling switch, and neces sary connectors, all removably secured within said body.

A bell movement, induction coil, receiver switch, and necessary connectors, all removably secured within a telephone box said box and a cover removably secured to same in combination with signaling means operated by a lever. and said lever, both removably secured within said box. one end of said lever protruding from the box and being provided with a button.

0. In inter-communicating telephones, a bell movement, induction coil, receiver switch and necessary connectors, all removably secured within a telephone box; said box and cover; in combination with a composite switch comprising a base removably secured within said box. a series of bent levers pivotally mounted on said base, whose long arms protrude from the body of said box and are provided with buttons; :1 series of groups of circuitclosers supported upon said base. of which each circuitcloser is normally out 01 contact with every other in its group, and each group is positioned so as to be operated by a ditierent one of said levers to cause progressive contact therein, thereby closing the talking and ringing circuits, substantially as described.

7. In inter-communicating telephones, a bell movement, induction coil, receiver switch and necessary connectors, all removably secured within a telephone box; said box and cover; in combination with a composite switch comprising a base removably secured within said box, a series of bent levers pivotally mounted on said base, a series of groups of circuit closers supported on said base, of which each circuit closer is normally out of contact with every other in its group and each group is positioned to be operated by a different one of said levers to cause progressive contact therein, thereby closing the talking and ringing circuits; and locking means for automatically maintaining said talking circuits, consisting of a series of arms pivotally mounted on the series of bent levers, all adapted to independently enter into locking connection with said base, substantially as set i'orth.

S. In intencommnnicating telephones, a bell movement, induction coil, receiver switch and necessary connectors, all rcmovably secured within a telephone box; said box and cover: in combination with a composite switch comprising a base removably secured within said box, a series of bent levers pivotnlly mounted on said base, a series of groups of circuit closers supported on said base, of which each circuit-closer is normally out of contact with every other in its group, and each group is positioned to be operated by a different one of said levers to cause progressive contact therein, thereby closing the talking and lil ng circuits, automatic locking means attached to said levers for maintaining such talking circuits; and automatic releasing means operated by the receiver supporting.lever for releasing said locking means; and said receiver supporting lever. substantially as set forth.

0. In intencmnmunicating telephones, the combination of a bell movement, induction coil, receiver switch and necessary connectors, all rcmovably secured within a telephone box; said box and cover; and a composite switch comprising a base removably secured within said box, a plurality of bent levers pivotally mounted upon said base, each adapted to cause progressive contactof a different series of circuit-closers, which are normally out of such contact: said circuit-closers, supported on said base; and mechanism supported on said base and positioned to be operated independently by each of said levers for the purpose of breaking a contact and preventing this station from being called. substantially as set forth.

10. In inter-communicating telephones, the described bell movement, induction coil, receiver switch and necessary connectors, all mounted as a unit on a frame adapted to be removably secured within a telephone box; said box of formed metal construction, and a two-part cover removably secured to said box; in combination with a composite switch comprising a base removably secured within said box, a plurality of levers pivotally mounted on said base and each adapted to progressively move a diiferent series of circuit closers into contact; said series of circuit closers supported on said base and normally out of such contact; a series of buttons mounted outside of said box on protruding ends of said levers, each adapted to receive a suitable label; automatic locking means attached to each 0t said levers for independently causing the retention 01 certain of the above 'named contacts; and auto matic releasing means attached to the receiver supporting lever for causing the release of said lock; and said receiver supporting lever, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have ailixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

W. WEIR HENRY.

Witnesses:

Crrannns F. RICHARDSON, E. F. UNnn. 

